A family-owned daily newspaper serving Riverton, Lander and Fremont County, Wyoming since 1949

Take it easy

Mar 12, 2014 - By Steven R. Peck

Let's all decide here and now to take the Federal/Monroe road work in stride

By now you have noticed, or soon will, that a very busy portion of a very busy street in Riverton is being torn up.

Get used to it. It is going to be torn up for months.

While you're getting used to it, also look forward to when the project is done. The street is going to be much better than it was before.

And go ahead --gripe about it a little. No one likes road construction, and there are going to be some frustrations.

But as you are doing all of that, remember this: honking your horn, flipping certain fingers, shaking your fist, raising your voice, and speeding through the construction zone will accomplish absolutely nothing other than making you look like a jerk and, quite possibly, getting you in more trouble than your behavior is worth.

Our roads are built to last, but sometimes, finally, they need to be rebuilt. That is the case with the reconstruction of South Federal Boulevard near the Monroe Avenue intersection. It gets heavy use, and it has been many years since it has undergone an upgrade.

Now is the time. It's getting a better surface with better infrastructure underground as well. It will make for safer traveling, better drainage, and it will look a lot better when it's done, too.

The work is going to take place. In fact, it has started already. That part of the discussion is over. What the construction workers need now, what the Wyoming Department of Transportation needs now, along with local law enforcement, the City of Riverton, affected businesses in the construction zone, affected homeowners along the probable alternative routes, pedestrians in the area, and the drivers and occupants of all the vehicles that must negotiate the construction zone in unfavorable driving conditions -- what everyone needs now is mutual cooperation, civility and understanding.

And remember, this is the little-brother project to the big rebuild of North Federal Boulevard coming up in the not-too-distant future. The South Federal job will be a good warm-up for the North Federal project. We'll need it.

So, for the next six months, let's make it a community goal to stay calm, think positively, and be collectively polite and courteous as we get through this project together, knowing that when it is done, our community will have been improved for decades to come.